Allen, Hussey, Novak, Boger, Kemp, and Smith are Wild Card referees

Football Zebras has confirmed the officiating crews for the Wild Card Playoffs.

This year, the NFL has moved to six Wild Card Playoff games. Since 2017, the Conference Championship officials have been selected from those who worked Wild Card Playoff games.

Also, the NFL has moved to five alternates for the early postseason rounds, up one from last year. The alternate officials are a referee, an umpire, a line of scrimmage official (down judge or line judge), a deep wing official (field judge or side judge), and a back judge. Officials who have alternate assignments are still eligible for an on-field assignment in the Divisional Playoffs.

All times are Eastern. The prior playoff experience that is listed for the crew chief includes his service as an NFL official, including as referee and any other crew position (excluding alternate assignments).

As has been the case this season, scheduled assignments are subject to change during the pandemic.

Saturday, Jan. 9

AFC Wild Card: Colts at Bills, 1:05 p.m. CBS

Brad Allen is the referee, who is in his 7th season. This is Allen’s 3rd postseason assignment: his second Wild Card Playoff plus a Divisional Playoff. Allen was hired directly to the referee position from the NCAA in 2014.

• Replay official: Mark Butterworth
• Replay assistant: Brian Uhrmacher
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • Umpire: Alan Eck
  • Line of scrimmage: Mark Hittner (DJ)
  • Deep wing: Michael Banks (SJ)
  • Back judge: Perry Paganelli

NFC Wild Card: Rams at Seahawks, 4:40 p.m. Fox

John Hussey is the referee, who is in his 19th season and 6th as referee. This is Hussey’s 14th postseason assignment, including 6 Wild Card Playoffs, 4 Divisional Playoffs, 3 Conference Championships, and Super Bowl XLV. His Super Bowl assignment was as a line judge.

• Replay official: Brian Matoren
• Replay assistant: Gavin Anderson
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • Umpire: Terry Killens
  • Line of scrimmage: David Oliver (LJ)
  • Deep wing: Jeff Lamberth (FJ)
  • Back judge: Keith Ferguson

NFC Wild Card: Buccaneers at WAS Football Team, 8:15 p.m. NBC

Scott Novak is the referee, who is in his 7th season and 2nd as referee. This is Novak’s 4th postseason assignment, and his first as referee. His first three assignments, a Wild Card Playoff and 2 Divisional Playoffs, were at deep wing positions (field judge and side judge).

• Replay official: Jimmy Oldham
• Replay assistant: Des Abrams
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • Umpire: Bruce Stritesky
  • Line of scrimmage: Patrick Turner (DJ)
  • Deep wing: Dave Meslow (FJ)
  • Back judge: Matt Edwards

Sunday, Jan. 10

AFC Wild Card: Ravens at Titans, 1:05 p.m. ABC ESPN ESPN2 FREEFORM ESPN+

Jerome Boger is the referee, who is in his 17th season and 15th as referee. This is Boger’s 6th postseason assignment, his first in the Wild Card round plus 4 Divisional Playoffs and Super Bowl XLVII. This is Boger’s first on-field postseason assignment since the Super Bowl, not including the Pro Bowl in January 2017.

• Replay official: John McGrath
• Replay assistant: Artenzia Young-Seigler
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • Umpire: Barry Anderson
  • Line of scrimmage: Jeff Seeman (LJ)
  • Deep wing: Jim Quirk (FJ)
  • Back judge: Todd Prukop

NFC Wild Card: Bears at Saints, 4:40 p.m. CBS NICK PRIME

Alex Kemp is the referee, who is in his 7th season and 3rd as referee. This is Kemp’s 3rd postseason assignment, and his first as referee. His first two assignments were both Wild Card Playoffs as a side judge.

• Replay official: Mike Chase
• Replay assistant: Alton James
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Adrian Hill
  • Umpire: Mark Pellis
  • Line of scrimmage: Carl Johnson (LJ)
  • Deep wing: Jimmy Buchanan (SJ)
  • Back judge: Jimmy Russell

AFC Wild Card: Browns at Steelers, 8:15 p.m. NBC TELEMUNDO PEACOCK

Shawn Smith is the referee, who is in his 6th season and 3rd as referee. This is Smith’s 5th postseason assignment, including 3 Wild Card Playoffs, a Divisional Playoff, and a Conference Championship. He has had at least one playoff assignment in every season he was eligible.

• Replay official: Roddy Ames
• Replay assistant: Gerald Frye
• Alternates
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • Umpire: Rich Hall
  • Line of scrimmage: Tripp Sutter (DJ)
  • Deep wing: Gary Cavaletto (FJ)
  • Back judge: Greg Steed